Floating bait container

ABSTRACT

A collapsible live bait container constructed of a vinyl coated fabric mesh. The mesh is sewn over one or more flexibly resilient stays. A foam flotation member or buoyant stays can be secured to the enclosure walls. Resealing access ports are defined with strips of hook and loop fasteners, zippers or a fabric sleeve and drawstring. Several storage compartments can be provided with permanent or detachable walls or pockets.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This is a divisional application of application Ser. No. 10/301,772 entitled “Floating Bait Container” and filed Nov. 21, 2002 by Joseph C. Beech, now pending.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to live bait containers and, in particular, to a container having a fabric mesh sewn to rigid stays to define displaced walls and an enclosed storage cavity and including a resealing access port and a buoyant member sewn to the mesh walls.

A longstanding problem of live bait fishermen, who use minnows and other bait that must remain submerged in water, is providing a means for storing the bait while fishing. Varieties of rigid walled bait containers and traps with hinged doors and perforated walls exist. These containers are typically constructed from metallic mesh screen or perforated metal or plastic. These containers can be dragged from a boat or can be mounted inside a solid walled outer container that supports a quantity of water.

Rigid walled, built-in-bait wells and/or live wells are also provided on many fishing boats. In lieu of towing the foregoing bait containers and depending upon the size of the live well, many of the foregoing bait containers can be inserted into a live well. The bait is thereby segregated from any fish that are caught and kept. Damage can occur, however, to the bait, captured fish, bait container and/or live well with normal jostling of the bait container during boat operation.

Mesh fabric outfitted with buoyant floats as also been used to store live bait such as leeches and as a holding pen for live wells. The walls of such assemblies, however, can collapse against the contained bait and/or fish and obstruct normal gill movement and breathing, thereby severely effecting bait mortality and storage time.

The present invention was developed to provide an economical mesh fabric, live bait container with a resealing access port that can support bait, such as minnows and other aquatic bait or insects (e.g. grasshoppers and crickets). The container and bait can be stored in a live well. The walls are displaced with resilient, flexible stays to define a bait storage space. One or more compartments can be provided to segregate multiple types or different species of bait. One or more buoyant floats can be included to support the container. The stays can flex during boat movement allowing the walls to collapse and expand. Damage is thereby minimized to the stored bait, fish, bait container and/or live well. The bait container can also be collapsed for storage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed toward a live bait container comprised of a fabric mesh. The fabric mesh is formed to define a flexible body having a first end wall, a second end wall and a side wall disposed between the first end wall and second end wall. The first end wall, second end wall and side wall define an interior storage space. The fabric mesh further comprises an access port for communicating with the interior storage space. In another embodiment of the invention, the mesh bait container comprises a longitudinal access port to the interior storage space. In another embodiment of the invention, the live bait container comprises a side wall with a major axis and a minor axis, with an access port located on the side wall oriented along the major axis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective drawing showing a cylindrical mesh fabric container having a buoyant flotation member and an end access port defined with hook and loop fastener material.

FIG. 2 is a front view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a rear view thereof.

FIG. 4 is a view of the top or resealing end thereof.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view thereof.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a container having a longitudinal hook and loop access port.

FIG. 7 is an end view of a container having an end zipper access port.

FIG. 8 is a front view of a container having a longitudinal zipper access port.

FIG. 9 is a perspective drawing showing a container having a domed end with a drawstring closure.

FIG. 10 is a perspective drawing showing a container having alternative types of stays constructed of foam cord, nylon cord/rod stock and a foam covered core piece and a secondary storage compartment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, views are shown to a mesh fabric, live bait container 2. The sidewalls 4 of the container 2 are supported in a generally cylindrical shape via a pair of flexibly resilient stays or hoops 6. One of the stays 6 is shown in cutaway and is formed from a flat band of a water impermeable material (e.g. plastic or a coated material) that is rolled and sewn into a hem 7 at the end of the container 2. Each stay 6 generally defines an endless hoop, although several linear sections might be secured to the walls 4 to prevent the walls from collapsing against each other. The material used in the stays 6 is selected to be resistant to UV light and other environmental forces and to provide a sufficient resilience to return to shape, if distorted.

The shape, number and positioning of the stays 6 can be varied depending upon the geometry of a desired container. A cylindrical container shape is presently preferred to facilitate transport of the container 2 to and from a bait shop in typically available buckets. The container 2 can be constructed with any combination of flat and/or arcuate walls.

Access to an interior storage space 8 is obtained through a resealing access port 10 at an end wall 9. The space 8 can be segregated into several compartments with suitable walls, reference FIG. 6, that can be permanently sewn into the container 2 or attached with strips of hook and loop material or other fasteners to the sidewall 4. The access port 10 can be formed into either of the end walls 9 or 11 or the sidewall 4. Any divider walls are typically positioned transverse to the access port 10 to facilitate access to each compartment.

The access port 10 is constructed of overlapping flaps 12 and 14 that are covered with hook and loop fastener material 16 and 18. Pull-tabs 20 are secured along the flaps 12 and 14 to facilitate opening or re-sealing the port 10. A looped, carry strap or handle 22 is also sewn to the hem 7 at end wall 9, although can be mounted anywhere on the container 2.

The container walls 4, 9 and 11 can be colored as desired; however, it has been found that minnows tend to collect and hover near dark colors. The end walls 9 and 11 are therefore typically colored black and the sidewall 4 is colored a contrasting color, such as fluorescent yellow or other lighter color, and against which the minnows are readily visible. The clustering of the bait at the ends 9 and 11 reduces bait movement and conserves energy, which provides for livelier bait action when the bait is presented later to a prey species.

Secured along a longitudinal side of the container 2 is a buoyant float 24. The float 24 is secured in a hemmed pocket 25. The float 24 is positioned to assure ready access to contained bait and is sized to support a specified amount of bait. The shape, number and positioning of any floats 24 can be selected as desired. Presently, the float 24 exhibits a half-moon profile.

The float 24 orients the container 2 to minimize forces that might act to open the access port 10 during normal container movements in a live well. The float 24 also acts as a bumper to prevent injuring stored bait or permanently damaging the container 2. The flexible stays 6 and walls 4, however, are able to distort and collapse as the container 2 is jostled. Multiple floats 24 and/or weights (not shown) can be positioned around the walls of the container 2 to properly balance the container 2 and preferably maintain the access port 10 at the surface to avoid spillage of bait in the event the port 10 opens during jostling or is inadvertently not closed.

The container 2 might also be tethered to an anchor and suspended in a body of water at a suitable depth and/or thermocline to facilitate bait storage between fishing excursions. If submerged, a tether line and marker buoy (not shown) that floats at the surface can also be secured to the container 2 to facilitate retrieval.

The size of the storage space 8 can be varied to accommodate different volumes of bait. Once filled, the container 2 is normally supported in a bucket for transport to a holding area, for example, a live well or lake. Containers 2 of the present type have found particular application for segregated bait from captured fish in boat live wells. Commercial bait dealers also use several containers for segregating distinct sizes and species of bait in aerated storage tanks during transport.

FIG. 6 depicts an alternative container 30 that is substantially identical to the container 2, except that an access port 32 extends longitudinally along the sidewall 4. The port 32 is sealed with strips 16 and 18 of hook and loop fastener material. The container 30 is also shown with a mesh divider wall 34 that can be secured to the walls 4 to define separate storage compartments 36 and 38. Multiple species (e.g. leeches and minnows) or different types of a species might be stored in the different compartments 36 and 38. A stay 6 can be provided at the periphery of the divider 34 and the divider 34 can be secured permanently or with strips of hook and loop fastener material to the walls 4.

FIGS. 7 and 8 depict alternative containers 40 and 50, which provide end and longitudinal zippers 42 and 52 and portions of which are shown in enlarged scale. The zippers 42 and 52 are secured such that the fabric mesh is closely fit to the zippers 42 and 52. A cover flap 44 (shown in partial cutaway) might also be sewn to the walls 4, 9 and 11 to cover the zippers 42 and 52 and reduce possible escape of bait, if the containers 40 and 50 are accessed while floating.

FIG. 9 discloses a container 60 having a porous fabric sleeve or end cowling-piece 62. The sleeve 62 is sewn to the hem 7 and provides an opening 64 that is bounded by drawstrings 66 and a sliding pinch fastener 68. The opening 64 can be adjusted to fit closely about the arm to minimize bait escaping during removal.

FIG. 10, lastly depicts a container 70 substantially identical to the container 2 but outfitted with a number of alternative types of stays 72, 74 and 76. The stay 72 is constructed of an open or closed cell foam cord (e.g. ⅜ to 1-inch diameter) that can be secured within the hems 7 at each end 9 and 11, although is only shown at one of the hems 7. A buoyant stay 72 might be used in lieu of the float 24 and/or might be combined with the non-buoyant stays 6.

The stay 74 comprises a solid nylon cord piece that can be secured to the hems 7 in lieu of a flat band 6. The stay 74 can exhibit any desired hollow or solid cross-sectional shape and can be constructed from a polymer, nylon, plastic, polypropylene or other suitably resilient synthetic material that flexes, yet springs back to shape.

The stay 76 comprises a foam outer sheath 78 that is fitted over a solid nylon core 80. The combination stay 76 can be sized to any suitable diameter and resilience required for the size container and can be used in combination with or in lieu of the float 24. The core 80 enhances the rigidity and resilience of the stay 76 and the sheath 78 provides buoyancy and acts as a bumper. Although the stays 6, 72, 74 and 76 are shown as being mounted in the hems 7, they might also be retained with loops or sleeve sections that are permanently or detachably mounted to the walls 4, 9 and 11.

Attached to the wall 4 is a separate pocket or bait compartment 90 that can either be sewn or secured with strips of hook and loop fastener material 94. The access port 92 is sealed with mating strips of hook and loop fastener material that are sewn to the facing flaps. Other strips 94 of hook and loop fastener material 94 might also be provided at the ends of the container 30 to facilitate attachment to adjoining container(s) 30 that are secured with overlapping hinge straps 96.

While the invention has been described with respect to a number of preferred assemblies and considered improvements or alternatives thereto, still other assemblies and rigging arrangements may be suggested to those skilled in the art. It is also to be appreciated that selected ones of the foregoing stays, floats, and/or closure assemblies, among other features, can be used singularly with a live bait container or can be arranged in different combinations to provide a variety of improved bait containers. The foregoing description should therefore be construed to include all those embodiments within the spirit and scope of the following claims. 

1. A live bait container comprising: fabric mesh formed to define a flexible body having a first end wall, a second end wall, a side wall disposed between the first end wall and second end wall, and an interior storage space; and an access port communicating with the interior storage space and located on the side wall of the flexible body.
 2. The live bait container of claim 1 wherein the access port is an elongate longitudinal opening in the side wall.
 3. The live bait container of claim 1 wherein the access port comprises first and second upstanding flaps extending outward from the side wall.
 4. The live bait container of claim 3 wherein the first and second upstanding flaps include first and second strips of fastener material located on opposing surfaces of the first and second flaps, respectively, to provide a resealable opening.
 5. The live bait container of claim 1 wherein the side wall includes a float positioned alongside the access port.
 6. The live bait container of claim 1 wherein the side wall is attached to the first end wall and the second end wall to form a cylindrically shaped flexible body.
 7. The live bait container of claim 1 wherein the access port includes first and second pull tabs to facilitate opening and closing of the access port.
 8. The live bait container of claim 1 wherein the flexible body includes a flexible resilient stay to prevent the flexible body from collapsing.
 9. The live bait container of claim 8 wherein the flexible resilient stay is buoyant.
 10. The live bait container of claim 1 and further comprising a mesh pocket sewn onto an exterior of the side wall.
 11. The live bait container of claim 1 where the flexible body further includes an interior wall connected to the first end wall, second end wall and side wall, and dividing the interior storage space into segregated portions.
 12. A live bait container comprising: fabric mesh formed to define an enclosure having a plurality of walls and surrounding an interior storage space; wherein the enclosure includes: a cylindrically shaped side wall having a first edge and a second edge; a first end panel secured to the first edge; a second end panel secured to the second edge; and an elongate longitudinal access port to the interior storage space formed by first and second cut edges of the cylindrically shaped side wall.
 13. The live bait container of claim 12 wherein the elongate longitudinal access port includes first and second upstanding flaps attached to the first and second cut edges, respectively, and extending outward from the cylindrically shaped side wall.
 14. The live bait container of claim 13 wherein the first and second upstanding flaps include first and second strips of fastener material located on opposing surfaces of the first and second flaps, respectively, to provide a resealable opening.
 15. The live bait container of claim 12 wherein the side wall includes a float positioned alongside the elongate longitudinal access port.
 16. The live bait container of claim 12 wherein the elongate longitudinal access port includes first and second pull tabs to facilitate opening and closing of the elongate longitudinal access port.
 17. The live bait container of claim 12 wherein the cylindrically shaped side wall includes a flexible resilient stay.
 18. The live bait container of claim 17 wherein the flexible resilient stay is buoyant.
 19. The live bait container of claim 12 and further comprising a mesh pocket sewn onto an exterior of the side wall.
 20. The live bait container of claim 12 where the enclosure further includes an interior wall connected to the plurality of walls, and dividing the interior storage space into segregated portions.
 21. A live bait container comprising: a flexible enclosure formed from a fabric mesh body having an interior space and a side wall with a major axis and a minor axis; and an access port for accessing the interior space located on the side wall and orientated along the major axis of the side wall.
 22. The live bait container of claim 21 wherein the access port comprises first and second upstanding flaps extending outward from the side wall.
 23. The live bait container of claim 22 wherein the first and second upstanding flaps include first and second strips of fastener material located on opposing surfaces of the first and second flaps, respectively, to provide a resealable opening.
 24. The live bait container of claim 21 wherein the side wall includes a float positioned alongside the access port.
 25. The live bait container of claim 21 wherein the side wall has a cylindrical shape.
 26. The live bait container of claim 21 wherein the access port includes first and second pull tabs to facilitate opening and closing of the access port.
 27. The live bait container of claim 21 wherein the flexible enclosure includes a flexible resilient stay to prevent the fabric mesh body from collapsing.
 28. The live bait container of claim 27 wherein the flexible resilient stay is buoyant.
 29. The live bait container of claim 21 and further comprising a mesh pocket sewn onto an exterior of the side wall.
 30. The live bait container of claim 21 where the flexible enclosure further includes an interior wall for dividing the interior storage space into segregated portions. 